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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (September 1) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on co-operation with regard to the WIPO Lex-Judgments database to strengthen information sharing, with a view to jointly building a more connected and informative global intellectual property (IP) community.
 
     The WIPO Lex-Judgments database provides free, open access to leading judicial decisions relating to IP from around the world. The Chief Executive in his 2024 Policy Address announced that Hong Kong will participate in the database with the Central Government’s support. Under the MOU, Hong Kong will contribute leading IP judgments from the Judiciary to the database, facilitating the international IP community’s access to such judgments, while at the same time showcasing the quality of Hong Kong’s IP-related judicial judgments.
 
     In the witness of the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; Deputy Director General of WIPO Ms Wang Binying; and the Chief Judge of the High Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Poon, the MOU was signed by the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, and Assistant Director General of WIPO Mr Marco Alemán.
 
     In his speech at the signing ceremony, Mr Chan said that Hong Kong’s participation in the database carries special significance. “Under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework, Hong Kong is the only territory in China practising common law, and in both Chinese and English. Its protection of IP is widely recognised. As a trusted venue for resolving IP disputes involving parties from both the Mainland and abroad, our judgments serve as valuable references to the international legal community.”
 
     Mr Chan indicated Hong Kong’s strengthened collaboration with WIPO would not only enhance its role in the international exchange of jurisprudence, but also strengthen Hong Kong’s standing as a leading regional hub for IP trading and legal services. “By enhancing the global transparency of our IP legal regime, we provide greater confidence to international businesses and rights holders to invest and pursue innovation activities here. They can count on our reliable, world-class legal infrastructure for the commercialisation and protection of their IP assets.” He also thanked the Central People’s Government and WIPO for their strong support to Hong Kong’s IP initiatives over the past years, and reiterated that Hong Kong remains firmly committed to playing an active role in international IP co-operation and contributing to China’s vision of becoming a global IP powerhouse by 2035.
 
     Also addressing the signing ceremony, Mr Justice Poon said, “Under the MOU, representative IP judgments of the Hong Kong courts will be made available on the WIPO Lex-Judgments database. Hong Kong will continue to play an important role in providing better access of IP judgments, enhancing global understanding of judicial approaches to the latest common legal issues, and contributing to international co-operation for promoting IP.”
 
     Today’s signing ceremony was also attended by representatives from the local IP community, the legal profession, the research and development sector and business bodies.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Health today launched its Dental Internship Programme, welcoming the first cohort of 75 local dental graduates under the scheme.

The graduates join the department on 12-month internships as Dental House Officers.

Addressing a launch ceremony, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said the programme marks not only a significant milestone in dental education in Hong Kong but also a crucial step forward in the pursuit of higher-quality dental services.

“Dental practice is a highly specialised field of knowledge and skill, and excellent dentists must continuously refine their expertise through clinical practice.

“I hope that the Dental House Officers participating in this programme will cherish every opportunity to learn, honing their skills over the coming year. By engaging directly with patients, they can build mutual trust and develop empathy, embodying the professionalism of healthcare providers and safeguarding the health of Hong Kong’s citizens.”

Amendments to the Dentists Registration Ordinance relating to provisional registrations, internships and the period of assessment came into effect on April 1.

Under the new arrangements, local dental graduates are required to undergo an internship, while non-locally trained dentists who have passed the Dental Council of Hong Kong’s licensing examination will need to undergo a period of assessment before obtaining full registration in Hong Kong.

The Dental House Officers will first participate in a two-week orientation programme to become familiar with the scope of public dental services.

They will then be assigned to rotate across the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority, and Prince Philip Dental Hospital, and work under the guidance of experienced dentists in general dental services, emergency dental services, hospital dental services, the School Dental Care Service, and community dental services.

Upon successful completion of the internship, the officers will be awarded a certificate of experience that enables them to obtain full registration. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

At the invitation of the Central People’s Government, Chief Executive John Lee will tomorrow lead a delegation to Beijing in order to attend commemorative events marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War on Wednesday.

The engagements will include a commemorative rally and a military parade in the morning, and a cultural gala in the evening. Mr Lee will also attend a reception at noon.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation comprises about 360 members from various sectors of the community. They include the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Principal Officials and representatives from the Judiciary, the Legislative Council and the District Councils, as well as patriots who participated in the War of Resistance, veterans and their descendants.

There are also representatives from a wide range of sectors, including commerce, Mainland enterprises, education, innovation and technology, professional services, social welfare, media, religion, culture, publishing, the arts, sports, youth and student groups, and members of the public.

Mr Lee will depart for Beijing on September 2 and return to Hong Kong on September 4.

In his absence, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki will be Acting Chief Executive.

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will deputise for the Financial Secretary during his absence, while Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will do so for the Secretary for Justice.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Fire Services Department today said it has launched an online Fire Hazard Electronic Complaint Portal.

By offering an additional channel for reporting fire hazards such as obstruction to or locking of the means of escape, the department said the portal will enable prompt follow-up of complaints, thereby further safeguarding the community.

The portal supports various mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. Users can simply fill in an electronic form and upload supporting photos or videos if necessary. They can also save time on data entry by logging on to the iAM Smart mobile app.

Furthermore, the portal features a case tracking function that allows users to check the progress of their complaints.

In addition to the online portal, members of the public can continue to report fire hazards via email, by calling the complaint hotline at 2723 8787, or by sending a fax to 2311 0066.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding between the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Concerning WIPO Lex-Judgments today (September 1):

Deputy Director-General Wang (Deputy Director General of WIPO, Ms Wang Binying), Justice Poon (Chief Judge of the High Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Poon), Director-General Zhou (Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, Ms Zhou Qian), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this event, especially the distinguished delegation from the World Intellectual Property Organization led by Deputy Director General Wang.  

Signing of MOU with WIPO

This morning, we gather to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that marks the Hong Kong SAR’s participation in the WIPO Lex-Judgments database. It is another milestone in our engagement with the global IP (intellectual property) community. 
 
Since its launch in 2020, the WIPO Lex-Judgments database has provided free and open access to leading judicial decisions on IP from around the world. It now features more than 2,200 decisions from over 40 jurisdictions, and continues to grow in both scope and influence.  

Access to important and precedent-setting cases is a valuable resource for judges, IP practitioners, policymakers and users across the IP ecosystem. It enables better understanding of complex, cross-border IP issues. It helps innovators and businesses navigate IP environments in other jurisdictions. And it strengthens judicial systems worldwide in keeping pace with the evolving landscape of IP law, particularly in the face of rapid technological advancements. Ultimately, it contributes to a more connected, transparent and coherent global IP framework.

Hong Kong’s participation in WIPO Lex-Judgment database

China has been a contributor to this important database since its inception. Today, Hong Kong’s participation carries special significance for a number of reasons. 

First, it enhances Hong Kong’s contribution to the international exchange of jurisprudence. Under the “one country, two systems” framework, Hong Kong is the only territory in China practising common law, and in both Chinese and English. Our Judiciary exercises powers independently, and is widely respected locally and internationally. Our protection of intellectual property is widely recognised. In fact, we rank sixth globally in IP rights protection in this year’s IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook.  

Indeed, as a trusted venue for resolving IP disputes involving parties from both the Mainland and abroad, our judgments often serve as valuable references to the international legal community. 

Second, our participation further consolidates Hong Kong’s position as a regional hub for IP trading and legal services. By enhancing the global transparency of our IP legal regime, we provide greater confidence to international businesses and rights holders to invest and pursue innovation activities here. They can count on our reliable, world-class legal infrastructure for the commercialisation and protection of their IP assets. 

Third, Hong Kong’s involvement in the database will foster deeper connections and collaboration with global counterparts in the IP field. It will enrich academic and legal research, encourage judicial dialogue, and help ensure that our jurisprudence remains at the forefront of global IP development.  

Deepening collaboration with WIPO

Ladies and gentlemen, I am also pleased to note that our collaboration with WIPO is deepening in many other areas. 

This afternoon, we will cohost the launch of the 2025 Global Innovation Index Ranking of the World’s Top 100 Innovation Clusters – an event jointly organised by WIPO and our country.  

The back-to-back hosting of these two important events in Hong Kong is a strong testament to the Central Government’s unwavering support for Hong Kong’s development as a regional IP trading centre and a global innovation and technology hub. 

We are also grateful to WIPO and the China National Intellectual Property Administration for their support in establishing a Technology and Innovation Support Centre in Hong Kong. This centre will empower our innovation and technology sector by helping businesses leverage the patent system, access high-quality IP data, and build capacity and networks, thereby further strengthening our innovation ecosystem. 

Concluding remarks

Ladies and gentlemen, none of these achievements would have been possible without the steadfast support of WIPO and the Central People’s Government. 

Hong Kong remains firmly committed to playing an active role in international IP co-operation and contributing to China’s vision of becoming a global IP powerhouse by 2035.
  
Before I close, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Judiciary for upholding the rule of law and delivering judicial decisions of the highest standard. 

Thank you very much.  

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the keynote speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism , Miss Rosanna Law, at the Redefining Hong Kong: Culture, Sports & Tourism forum today (September 1):

Catherine (Chief Executive Officer of South China Morning Post, Ms Catherine So), Allan (Chairman and CEO of Lan Kwai Fong Group, Dr Allan Zeman), Bernard (Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation and Chairman of M+ Board, Mr Bernard Chan), distinguished guests, friends from South China Morning Post, ladies and gentlemen,  

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council:

     The Sir Edward Youde Memorial (SEYM) Fund Council today (September 1) reminded interested applicants that applications for the SEYM Fellowships and Scholarships for Overseas Studies and the SEYM Overseas Fellowship/Scholarship for Disabled Students for the 2026/27 academic year will close on Friday (September 5).

     The fellowships and scholarships aim at encouraging outstanding students to pursue further studies in renowned institutions overseas. Awardees should aspire to contribute to Hong Kong and be ready to give back to the community upon graduation.

     The fellowships are for overseas studies leading to postgraduate degrees either by research or coursework. The maximum value of a fellowship is HK$300,000 per year, tenable for up to three years for a doctoral degree or two years for a master’s degree. The scholarships are for overseas studies leading to undergraduate degrees. The maximum value of a scholarship is HK$280,000 per year, tenable for up to three years.

The applicants will be responsible for fulfilling all application procedures and admission requirements of the academic institutions of their choice.

Information notes for the applications are available on the website of the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/en/resources/forms/form.htm). Applicants should submit the completed form through the GovHK website (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/sfo031/en/). For details, please visit the website of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund (www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/seymf/en/whatwedo/index.htm), or call (852) 2150 6097 or (852) 2150 6098.

Shortlisted applicants of the Fellowships and Scholarships for Overseas Studies will be invited to attend interviews in Hong Kong. The first round of interviews is scheduled for December 2025 or January 2026. If found suitable, applicants will be invited for a final interview to be held in January or February 2026. For the Overseas Fellowship/Scholarship for Disabled Students, shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview in Hong Kong in January or February 2026.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
 
     The Registrar of the High Court, as the Competent Authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the Apostille Convention, starts to issue e-Apostille today (September 1), providing an optional alternative to the existing paper-based process.
 
     With the e-Apostille service, users can submit applications, make payments, and collect apostilled documents electronically without having to come to the Apostille Service Office, hence enjoying the convenience of e-services anytime, anywhere.
 
     “The new e-Apostille service has been developed with reference to the good practices recommended by the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in respect of the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents,” a spokesman for the Judiciary said.
 
     “The implementation of the e-Apostille service will be rolled out in phases. With immediate effect, the e-Apostille service will be available for applications through registered users of notaries public in Hong Kong. At a later stage, it will be extended to cover public documents issued by government officers whose particulars are kept at the Apostille Service Office,” the spokesman added.
 
     All Apostilles issued in Hong Kong on or after September 1, 2014, are available for verification through the e-Register service at www.judiciary.hk/en/court_services_facilities/apostille_verification.html.
 
     For more information on the operation of the apostille service in Hong Kong, please visit the dedicated webpage (www.judiciary.hk/en/court_services_facilities/apostille.html) on the Judiciary’s website.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, today (September 1) visited the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC) of the Transport Department (TD) to take a closer look at the traffic and public transport services on the first school day.

     The ETCC has been escalated to the Joint Steering Mode operation, the highest tier, from 6.30am to closely monitor the traffic and transport conditions of various districts, and the overall traffic conditions have mostly been smooth so far. Accompanied by the Commissioner for Transport, Ms Angela Lee, Mr Liu was briefed on the TD’s co-ordination and monitoring work in collaboration with the Police and major public transport operators, as well as its preparedness and response in case of inclement weather, with a view to minimising the impact on the public’s commute.

     Mr Liu said, “Railway, bus and ferry services remain normal this morning. Special routes serving school areas have resumed service. Cross-boundary students commuting to schools in Hong Kong have also been largely smooth. The road traffic of trunk roads, tunnels, bridges and school areas was busier but has generally been smooth. Public transport services can basically meet passenger demand.”

     Ms Lee added that the TD deployed about 100 staff members for on-site monitoring of the traffic conditions at major public transport interchanges, stations, school areas, land boundary control points and tunnels across the territory. They reported the real-time situation to the ETCC for service enhancement and implementation of traffic management measures accordingly where necessary.

     Students are again reminded to familiarise themselves early with public transport routes and their service frequencies to and from their schools to determine the most suitable means of commute. Members of the public are advised to heed the latest traffic news through the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk), the HKeMobility mobile application and radio and television broadcasts.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Fire Services Department (FSD) today (September 1) launched the online Fire Hazard Electronic Complaint Portal (fhcp.hkfsd.gov.hk), which provides members of the public with an additional channel to report fire hazards, such as obstruction to or locking of the means of escape. The portal will enable the FSD to follow up on fire hazards promptly to further safeguard the fire safety of the community.

     The online portal supports various mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. The public can simply fill in the electronic form and upload relevant photos or videos as supporting evidence if necessary, making the process secure and convenient. Also, the public can save time on data entry by logging on to the “iAM Smart” mobile app. Furthermore, the portal features a case tracking function that enables the public to check the progress of their complaints at any time.

     In addition to the online portal, members of the public can continue to report fire hazards to the FSD through the existing channels, including by email to hkfsdenq@hkfsd.gov.hk, by calling the FSD complaint hotline at 2723 8787, or by fax to 2311 0066.

     The FSD will continue to fully co-operate with the Government’s commitment to digitalisation of public services and integrate various digital services through “iAM Smart”, making it the “single portal for online government services” with a view to providing greater convenience to the public.